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lgbti
Uganda: Call to protect intersex people
2012-05-16, Issue 585
Two human rights groups in Uganda have launched a documentary entitled 'She is My Son - The Pain of being an Intersex person in Uganda.' At the launch the groups urged the Uganda government to protect intersex people by making available information on intersexuality to families. The two organizations, Support Initiative for People with atypical Sex Development (Sipd Uganda) and Uganda Health and Science Press Association noted with concern that many intersex people are denied their full potential in life for simply being who they are.
Swaziland: Newspaper hate speech slammed
2012-05-15, Issue 585
One of the most significant human rights organisations in Swaziland has called on the Times Sunday to take action against its columnist who wrote hate speech against homosexuals in the newspaper. The Swaziland Coalition of Concerned Civic Organisations (the Coalition) condemned the writer Qalakaliboli Dlamini who used words such as ‘satanic’ and ‘evil’ in an article about homosexuals in the kingdom.
Uganda: International day against homophobia celebrated
2012-05-21, Issue 585
On 17 May 2012, Trans Support Initiative Uganda (TSI-U), a Transgender and Intersex Organization in Uganda joined the rest of the world to commemorate the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia. 'We take this day to remember all the injustice, violence, discrimination and murders that have already occurred to colleagues, relatives and friends. It has not been long since we lost our very own David Kato because of homophobia, Aunt Victoria from Tanzania because of transphobia, the denial to access of medical services more especially HIV/Aids drugs to people like Beyonce and the closure of human rights workshops denying already marginalized people access to information.'
Zimbabwe: Minister wants gays evicted from communities
2012-05-14, Issue 584
A Zimbabwean minister has ordered traditional leaders to seize land belonging to homosexuals and expel them from their communities. Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo, who belongs to President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party, said homosexuality was a 'foreign value'.
South Africa: LGBTI community responds to anti-gay statements
2012-05-09, Issue 584
South Africa’s LGBTI community has reacted strongly against a statement made by ANC MP and Congress of Traditional Leaders of SA (Contralesa) president Patekile Holomisa on the rights of gays and lesbians. Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW) questioned whether the National House of Traditional Leaders knew that their comments constitute hate speech. In a press release FEW added, 'As the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) community we are enraged that traditional leaders are making such careless statements. It is such a betrayal when a body that is supposed to protect the rights of people turns around and proposes an amendment of those very rights to exclude people from the constitution. We have a constitution to protect the rights of everyone, not just those of the majority.'
Kenya: Clergy oppose call for de-criminalisation of homosexuality
2012-05-09, Issue 584
Members of the clergy and some human rights activists in Kenya have raised their objections to recommendations that homosexuality be de-criminalised in the East African country. The recommendations are proposed in a report on safeguarding sexual and reproductive health rights. The report is as a result of a public inquiry that had been set up by the commission to examine the extent and nature of violations of the two rights.
Why economic justice is central to LGBT rights
2012-05-09, Issue 584
At the recent Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) international forum on economic rights, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights advocates from around the world highlighted the urgent need to link economic justice and LGBT rights. As one representative of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission noted, the United States LGBT rights movement has focused largely on civil and political issues, including hate crime legislation, partnership benefits, gay marriage, and repeal of the shameful military policy 'Don't Ask/Don't Tell'. The link between economic justice and LGBT rights, however, in both the United States and abroad, has received considerably less attention.
South Africa: Traditional leaders want gay rights cut from Constitution
2012-05-06, Issue 583
The National House of Traditional Leaders wants to remove a clause from the Constitution which protects people from being discriminated against because of their sexual orientation. City Press reported on Sunday that the organisation was responding to an annual invitation by Parliament's constitutional review committee to submit suggestions for Constitutional amendments.
Cameroon: 'Gay' man's deportation from UK to Cameroon halted
2012-05-06, Issue 583
The deportation of a man to Cameroon has been temporarily halted after he refused to board a flight from London to Paris, the BBC has been told. Campaigners say Ediage Valerie Ekwedde's life is at risk, because he is gay, and should not be removed. Mr Ekwedde fears persecution in Cameroon but the UK Border Agency found 'no credible evidence' he was gay.
The Gambia: Jammeh denounces gay rights
2012-04-25, Issue 582
In the midst of the chorus of widespread condemnations of the imposition of values and norms alien to Africa under the pretext of human rights, the Gambian leader has made his position clear, denouncing in the strongest term possible terms what he called 'ungodly gay marriages', saying his country has no 'room for gays and lesbians'.
Uganda: Activists push for declassification of homosexuality as a mental health disorder
2012-04-25, Issue 582
Gay rights activists in Uganda want the government to declassify homosexuality as a mental health disorder. Activists have expressed concern that most health workers interviewed said homosexuals were mad people deserving psychiatric intervention.
Nigeria: Nigerian-born asylum seeker deported from UK
2012-03-29, Issue 579
A Nigerian-born asylum seeker in the United Kingdom, John Abraham, was finally deported on Friday March 16, despite the intervention of organisations that pursue LGBT migrants’ issues in the UK and across Europe. Prior to the deportation, Abraham was detained at the Coinbrook Immigration Removal Centre near Heathrow airport, West London and was initially due to be deported to Nigeria on 8 March.
Nigeria: Call for Nigeria to abandon new homophobic Bill
2012-03-22, Issue 578
The National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is examining the Same Gender Marriage Prohibition Bill. The draft law foresees three years of prison for those entering a marriage with someone of the same sex, or already in one. The Bill does not exclude tourists or expatriates in Nigeria. Those ‘witnessing, abetting and aiding the solemnization of same gender marriage’ face fines of up to 50,000 Nigerian naira (approximately EUR 230), and imprisonment for up to five years.
Liberia: Sirleaf backtracks on reported anti-gay remarks
2012-03-26, Issue 578
Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has been forced to backtrack on alleged comments published by the UK newspaper, The Guardian, which suggested she was opposed to gay rights. While holding a joint interview with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in Monrovia, the president had been asked a question about an anti-gay Bill being debated by Liberian lawmakers. The Guardian reported Mrs Sirleaf as responding: 'We’ve got certain traditional values in our society that we would like to preserve...We like ourselves just the way we are.'
Africa: Lobby for new Commonwealth charter on LGBTI rights
2012-03-26, Issue 578
Britain’s Kaleidoscope Trust has submitted its recommendations for changes to the Commonwealth Charter and called for an agreed timetable to end the criminalisation of LGBT people. The call came in response to a request by the Royal Commonwealth Society for proposals to amend the new draft Charter of the Commonwealth. Eighteen countries in Africa are currently part of the Commonwealth of Nations (with Zimbabwe having departed in 2003).
Global: Islamic states, Africans walk out on UN gay panel
2012-03-08, Issue 574
Brushing aside high-level UN appeals for cooperation to halt murder and violence against gays and lesbians around the globe, Muslim and Arab countries recently stalked out of a Human Rights Council panel to tackle the issue. The 57-nation Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Pakistan described homosexuality as 'licentious behaviour' while African group leader Senegal said it was not covered by global human rights accords.
Zimbabwe: Zimbabwean withdraws from Mr Gay World 2012
2012-02-28, Issue 572
Zimbabwe will no longer be represented in this year’s Mr Gay World after the man who intended to compete finally withdrew from the contest. Taurai Zhanje, who last week was verbally attacked by many from his local community, pulled out of the contest citing personal reasons.The 'Mr Gay World' Director for Africa, Coenie Kukkuk said: 'We are sad to loose Taurai, but in Africa, the personal sacrifice for gay and human rights is sometimes too much to expect from people.'
Zambia: HRC speaks against discrimination based on sexual orientation
2012-02-28, Issue 572
The Human Rights Commission (HRC) will speak against the discrimination of people on the basis of sexual orientation, chairperson Pixie Yangailo has said. Reacting to comments made by a section of Zambians after United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-Moon called for respect for sexual orientation, Ms Yangailo stressed that the Commission will oppose discrimination based on sexual orientation. Mr Ban, who is visiting Zambia, said on Saturday that no one should be stigmatised or discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation.
Cameroon: Ten women arrested, charged with being lesbian
2012-02-29, Issue 572
Ten women have been arrested in Cameroon on suspicion of being lesbians. They have been detained in Ambam, some 190 miles south of the capital of Yaounde, until they go on trial, Cameroon Radio Television reported. Consensual same-gender sex is considered criminal in the West African nation and punishable by a jail sentence from six months to five years and a fine.
Zimbabwe: Gay rights out of constitution
2012-02-29, Issue 572
The final draft constitution, earmarked to replace the Lancaster House Constitution, will criminalise homosexuality and ban same-sex marriages according to the views of the majority of Zimbabweans, it has emerged. In an interview, Constitution Select Committee (Copac) co-chair Mr Edward Mkhosi (MDC) said Zimbabwe had unequivocally affirmed that homosexuality should be outlawed. 'During the outreach programme, everyone said ‘no’ to gays and lesbians and, as the drafters, we heed what people say,” he said. “Contrary to media reports that the homosexuality issue was causing infighting, the people were clear; we did not waste time on it.'
Uganda: Petition condemns anti-gay bill
2012-02-29, Issue 572
An international petition launched three days ago calling for the international business community to protest Uganda’s notorious anti-gay bill has garnered the support of over 190,000 people worldwide. The more than 190,000 people have signed the petition to join a campaign on the Change.org website launched three days ago by Collin Burton, a gay Citibank customer from Washington, DC.
Libya: Gay activist responds to Libyan UN rant
2012-02-23, Issue 571
A leading gay activist in Libya has responded to his country's delegate who told a planning meeting of the UN Human Rights Council that gays threatened the continuation of the human race. Libya's representative told the gathering of ambassadors that LGBT topics 'affect religion and the continuation and reproduction of the human race.' But a gay activist from Tripoli responded: 'Human rights are universal and include LGBT rights. Therefore how can a human right be a threat to humanity?'
South Africa: Traditional Courts Bill 'discriminatory'
2012-02-23, Issue 571
The Lesbian and Gay Equality Project (LGEP) has described the Traditional Courts Bill as 'highly anti-democratic, unconstitutional and discriminatory'. The organisation says it is 'extremely concerned' that the Bill puts rural women in a discriminatory position. 'The Bill basically opens the door for women not to approach the customary court but be represented by a man. Women’s rights to equality before the law is compromised in this situation which make it worse for lesbian women since it is the general knowledge that customary law is not favorable to people who have intimate relations with people of the same sex,' said LGEP in a press statement.
Global: Stop anti-gay censorship in Russia
2012-02-27, Issue 571
In just one week the city of St. Petersburg could pass an outrageous bill that will make it a crime to read, write, speak or meet to discuss anything considered 'Gay'. St. Petersburg is one of Russia's number one tourist destinations. That's why an international storm of bad publicity will force the Governor to think twice about the cost of signing this bill. This campaign on http://www.allout.org is calling for your signature to protest against the bill.
Liberia: 'Kill the Gays' Bill spreading
2012-02-27, Issue 571
Former Liberian first lady Jewel Howard Taylor has introduced a bill making homosexuality liable to a death sentence. Jewel is a senator and former president Charles Taylor’s ex-wife. Uganda re-tabled a similar controversial anti-gay bill recently. Homosexuality is outlawed in 38 African countries and it can be punishable by death in Mauritania, Sudan, and northern Nigeria. This Global Voices post summarises the reactions from the blogosphere.
Cameroon: Three charged with practising homosexuality
2012-02-27, Issue 571
Three women in Cameroon have been charged with practising homosexuality, in what is believed to be the first such case in the country, a local reporter tells the BBC. The case, allegedly involving a lesbian love triangle, came to court on Monday, but has only been reported nationally now due to the remoteness of the area. Homosexual acts are punishable by up to five years in prison.
Zimbabwe: UK court blow for gay Zimbabwean asylum seekers
2012-02-14, Issue 570
Zimbabwean homosexuals claiming asylum in the United Kingdom are more than likely to be turned down because the African country has a thriving 'gay scene' and is 'not the worst place in the world to be gay or lesbian', a court ruled. A Zimbabwean asylum seeker, known by the initials LZ, arrived in the United Kingdom in 1999. She claimed asylum in 2009, stating that she feared persecution as a lesbian back home. The UK Home Office turned down her asylum bid leading to the case reaching the Upper Tribunal of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber.
South Africa: When our sexuality is referred to as a 'thing'
2012-02-16, Issue 570
A post on the Free Gender blog explains how in a meeting between LGBTI activists and church leaders, their sexuality was referred to as 'a thing'. 'Some left the boardroom with so many unanswered questions as they felt that conversation had a lot to do with dictatorship instead of opening up a holy and safe space for proper discussion that will make LGBTI feel welcomed at churches regardless of one’s sexuality or gender expression.'
Uganda: Statements by Ugandan & African organisations against the Anti-Homosexuality Bill
2012-02-20, Issue 570
Blog Black Looks has listed a number of Ugandan and African human rights organisations who have condemned the Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009, including the Ugandan Law Society, Coalition of African Lesbians, Urgent Action Fund Kenya and Ugandan Frontline Defenders.
Liberia: Anti-Homosexuality Bill: An open letter to Leymah Gbowee
2012-02-20, Issue 570
'LGBT Liberians live in fear, disempowered and daily imperiled. The war for them has not ended. Their lives are defined by danger and violence, persecution, hate speech and threats, discrimination and harassment. They are stigmatized, publicly rejected and almost completely abandoned by government. Their vulnerability affects all areas of their lives – church, school, employers, landlords, media, street mobs, rapists, predators, political actors, opinion leaders, family.'
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